Stewart-Haas Racing Martinsville Qualifying Report

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala SS, led the two-car Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) contingent in time trials at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway by winning the pole for Sunday’s TUMS Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Newman turned a lap of 19.563 seconds at 96.795 mph on the .526-mile oval.
It was Newman’s 45th career Sprint Cup pole, his second of the season and his third at Martinsville. He is now tied with Buck Baker for 11th on NASCAR’s all-time pole list.

“I think I got everything out of it I could have,” Newman said. “It was a great lap for the U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevrolet. Tony Gibson (crew chief) and the guys did a great job and the Hendrick horsepower was great. It has been a real pleasure to drive all day.”

Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala SS for SHR, qualified 13th with a time of 19.761 seconds at 95.825 mph.

“It was a decent lap for us in the Old Spice/Office Depot Chevy,” said Stewart, who has two Sprint Cup wins at Martinsville. “I’m really proud of Ryan and the U.S. Army/Haas Automation guys. That’s a great lap for those guys and I’d really like to see them get a victory before the season is over.”

Jeff Gordon will start alongside Newman on the outside of row one (19.619 seconds at 96.519 mph), while Martin Truex Jr. (19.621 seconds at 96.509 mph), Mark Martin (19.622 seconds at 96.504 mph) and David Reutimann (19.701 seconds at 96.117 mph) rounded out the top-five.

Forty-four drivers attempted to qualify for the TUMS Fast Relief 500. Josh Wise was the lone driver who failed to make the 43-car field.

As far as manufacturers went, Chevrolet took the top four positions with the runs made by Newman, Gordon, Martin and Truex Jr. Toyota was next best at the hands of Reutimann, while the top Ford came courtesy of Bobby Labonte, who posted the eighth-fastest time (19.718 seconds at 96.010 mph). Dodge rounded out the manufacturers with ninth-quick Reed Sorenson (19.726 seconds at 95.995 mph).

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The TUMS Fast Relief 500 gets underway at 1:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 25 with live coverage provided by ABC beginning with its pre-race show at 1 p.m.